RIDGWAY – Elk County District Attorney Bradley Kraus and members
of the Ridgway-based state police are seeking help from the public
in solving what they are calling “a suspicious death” in Millstone
Township.
Kraus and the state police held a press conference Thursday
afternoon at the Elk County Courthouse.
On Wednesday afternoon, an area resident found Timothy Patrick
Finucan, 50, dead of a gunshot wound in his Sigel home, according
to Kraus. Authorities believe the death occurred between Monday and
Wednesday.
“The reason for the news conference today is a request for the
public for anyone who has (had) any contact with Mr. Finucan over
the last several days, or who may have any information that may aid
in the investigation. We are asking anyone to contact the PSP at
the Ridgway barracks,” Kraus said.
Finucan was pronounced dead by Elk County Coroner Louis J.
Radkowski on Wednesday. The body is currently undergoing an autopsy
by Dr. Eric Lee Vey, forensic pathologist and Erie County
Coroner.
Kraus refused to say if a weapon was found near the body or if
there were signs of a break-in or burglary in the home.
“The fact that Mr. Finucan died of a gunshot wound makes the
death suspicious,” Kraus said. “It is an unwitnessed, or at least
an unaccompanied death, and any time there is an unaccompanied
death and someone is found, that is suspicious. The manner of death
and the cause of death obviously has not been determined at this
point due to the fact that an autopsy is being completed, but any
time someone dies unattended, so to speak, it can be deemed to be
suspicious.
“I am not going to talk about the evidence of the case, just
looking for any assistance that may be able to be provided to the
police in terms of their investigation by the public,” Kraus added.
Next of kin has been notified.
The home borders the Allegheny National Forest and may be in the
forest itself, but the land is privately owned, Kraus added. It is
located in a remote area off state Route 3002.
“The police don’t determine manner of death; it’s not in their
job description,” Kraus replied when asked if the death could be a
suicide.
“Either the coroner or – if the coroner is requesting an autopsy
or at request of the police for an autopsy – the pathologist would
make that determination. I am not going to speculate. I am going to
wait until we get a report from the pathologist.”
